Winter Fire

Ch. 9 [Allies And Enemies]

Winter Fire
Ch. 9
Allies And Enemies

I ran for what seemed like a hundred miles before I finally came across an open storefront. It was a little bar/restaurant called 'Andy's' lit up with flashing lights and neon signs in the windows. I stumbled through the front door, my feet bare and caked in blisters. I'd left the heels the moment I rounded the corner out of sight of Aaron, Sophia and the others. Then I just ran, bitterly ignoring the pain, even when my body flared in protest.

The hostess was a pretty young woman, light brown hair, blonde highlights and sweet coffee colored eyes. She smiled and welcomed me when I came in, even after she took in my appearance. I glanced out at the street before I approached her, still unable to relax even though it was void of followers.

"Hi, welcome to Andy's. How may I help you?" She asked brightly.

I turned back to her, taking a minute to catch my breath.

"I--uh--just need somewhere to sit for a moment. Preferably in the back . . . in the dark . . . out of sight of any doors or window."

She gave me a weird look.

"And, uh, if anyone comes looking for me, I was never here, okay?" Her eyes narrowed and I added quickly, "It's a game I play with my friends. Kind of exaggerated hide and seek."

She nodded hesitantly after a moment and showed me to a two-person table hidden back in the far corner of the restaurant. I thanked her and slumped into the chair facing the doors.

For a few minutes nothing happened and I gulped down three glasses of water and mentally rejuvenated myself. Then the door swung open, the bell twinkling lightly and Aaron entered, swiftly followed by Sophia and Aria. I started, instantly sinking down beneath the table, watching fearfully as Aaron spoke with the hostess. She shook her head, but then Sophia stepped up and said something brusquely. The hostess frowned and glanced over at me, gesturing to my table. My stomach dropped.

I hid myself beneath the table, creeping behind the sports fans crowding the place while Aaron, Sophia and Aria hurried to my table. I managed to get to the bathrooms without interference and quickly slipped inside. I hid inside one stall, locked the door, then slid under the raised wall, locked the next and repeated the process till I reached the very end. Then I slid back under the stalls to the middle and stood up on the toilet seat so my feet couldn't be seen. Then I waited.

After a moment I heard the bathroom door creak open.

"No--you watch the exits--" Sophia's voice echoed quietly. Another voice followed hers, but I couldn't tell what it said. "--it's not that--look, I have to do this alone--no, I don't think she'll listen to me--I still have to try--"

The door closed. I tensed, my pulse pounding through my chest with every click of Sophia's heels. She tried the stall doors, then sighed and stepped back.

"Winter." She called. "Winter I know you're in here."

I stayed deathly still.

"I need you to hear me out. Let me explain."

I swallowed my scoffing laugh, and just scowled.

A day ago this girl was just another air-headed popular girl that barley recognized my existence. Now she was . . . this. Whatever this was.

"Winter, please. I understand you're confused and probably scared. And I can guess seeing me like this was a bit of a shock, but if you'll just let me explain, I'm sure you'll find that none of this is what you're probably thinking it is right now."